Gordon Brown took his first trip to country retreat Camp David as Prime Minister. The preamble to the visit was designed to confuse. International Development Secretary, wee Douglas Alexander, had given a speech in Washington only days before, in which he seemed to indicate that London was distancing itself from Bush inthe "war on terror". He had spoken of the need for "new alliances, based on common values" and even mentioned an "internationalist approach" to global problems. Heresy! Was the Special Relationship in jeopardy? Brown's office denied this intent, but he set off for DC at least with the expectation that he would not play the role of "Fluffy the Lap-Poodle" that Blair had enjoyed. But anyway, would Dubya notice the difference?

The Independent on Sunday

Sunday 29/7/07